Patent GB-388760-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for reproducing the records on statistical cards
Filed: 1931-08-31
Abstract: 388,760. Punching statistical cards. THOMAS, A., 11, Sandy Lane South, Wallington. Aug. 31, 1931, No. 24471. [Class 31 (ii).] Selective punching-machines.-In a punching- machine for reproducing statistical cards as described in Specification 285,243, [Class 31 (ii), Punching and perforating machines &c.], arranged to reproduce a single copy or a plurality of copies of a single master card, the number of copies is predetermined and the feed of blanks is automatically stopped when the required number of copies is made. A series of master cards can be reproduced automatically. Master card feeding. The cards are fed from a bin 16 to a pin box 25 by a slide, operated from a shaft 19, connected to a card stop 23 by members 21, 29. The operating crank 1 reciprocates a pin 32 on a lever 17 in a slot of a link 30. As shown in Fig. 1, when a key 40 is depressed a latch 37 is raised clear of a lug 39 on a bell crank 33 on pin 32 allowing a lug 34 to engage the link 30 and the lever 17 to drive the shaft 19 and card stop 23. Single stroke mechanism of key 40. A lower latch 41 is pivoted to the frame and carries a face 43 engaging the latch 37. On depression of the key 40 the latch 41 is held by lug 39 for the operative stroke and on the return movement the lug 39 clears the face 43 of the latch 41, which rises. When the key 40 is released, the latch 41 moves down and the lever 37 becomes operative. To prevent incorrect action of the latch 41, a latch 45 engages and holds the latch 41 except at the end of the stroke of the feed. Blank card feeding. The blank cards are fed from a lower bin by a picker and are held up to prevent feeding by plungers 5. On a pin 3 reciprocated from the crank 1 is a latch 11 engaging a pin 10 on a lever 9 to raise the plungers 5. A second latch 13 pivoted to the frame holds the plungers up, and unless both latches are free from the pin 10 no cards are fed. Depression of the key 40 through a lever 53 frees the latches from the pin 10 to start the feed. Mechanism set to stop the feed of blank cards after a predetermined number of copies have been punched comprises a cyclic control device similar to that described in Specification 328,319, [Class 106 (i), Calculating &c.]. A fixed screw 56 is engaged by a nut 57 driven by a ratchet 58 operating against a coiled spring. When no card is in the punching mechanism, a pin 85 on descent of the punch mechanism allows an arm 83 to push a link 79 down to prevent motion of the crank 3 being transmitted to a rod 69 through a pin 73, and the cyclic control is unaffected. When a card is under the pin 85, the rod 75 is held up and then a notch 74 engages the pin 73. Movement of the crank 1 through a rod 69 and ratchet 58 advances the nut. The actuating pawl 62 and detent pawl 65 of the ratchet are normally held inoperative by a bar 90. When the key 40 is depressed, the lever 90 releases the pawls, and a latch 95 engages a pin 98 to hold the lever 90 clear of the pawls until the cam 60 on the nut engages and frees the latch 95 and the coiled spring resets the nut and stops the feed of blanks. A setting drum as described in Specification 328,319 determines the starting point of the nut travel, the position of the latch determines the finishing point. A hand-operated lever 100 holds the pawls olear to cut out the operation of the cyclic gear. To punch a fixed number of cards from each of a series of master cards, means are provided whereby after the cyclic control stops the blank card feed, the key 40 is automatically depressed to feed a master card and a new series of blank cards is fed until the cyclic control again operates. If the cyclic control is set to stop the card feed after, say, fifty cards have been made, the key 40 is depressed and the operation completed. When the last card leaves the punching mechanism, the cam 60 releases the latch 95 and the key 40 rises. The master card is discharged, the blank feed is stopped, and the cyclic device is reset. The key 40 is automatically depressed for the next fifty cards by the following mechanism. A series control cam 104 and ratchet 105 driven by a pawl 109 are arranged as shown. When the nut reaches the end of its travel, the cam 60 pushes the latch 95 to cause a pawl 111 to turn the ratchet 105 so that the pawl 109 can operate. When the pawl 109 reaches a long tooth 106, the cam 104 depresses the lever 90 clear of the pawls 62, 65, and the link 94 depresses the key 40. A manually set control cam 112 can be set to lock the lever 41 inoperative. In this position the master cards are fed only while the key is held down. When the cam is set to co-operate with a pin 113, all the controls are inoperative and the machine functions as a reproducing machine.